H14
Half-hard drawn wire. Straight and stable in automatic headers; the rivets are solution treated after heading.
Wire guide
2A01 Aluminium Wire for Rivets (H14, T4)
2A01 (formerly LY1) is a low-copper Al-Cu-Mg rivet alloy, the Chinese counterpart of 2117 and Russian Д18. Supplied as H14 or T4 wire from 1.6 to 10 mm to GB/T 3195, it reaches at least 185 MPa shear strength and can be driven after full natural ageing, which makes it the everyday structural rivet for service up to about 100 °C.
- Equivalent
- 2117 · Д18
- Tempers
- H14 · T4
- Diameter
- 1.6 – 10 mm
- Shear (T4)
- ≥ 185 MPa
What is 2A01 rivet wire?
2A01 is a Chinese national-standard (GB) designation in the 2xxx Al-Cu-Mg family. The "A" in the middle shows that the grade was carried over from the older Chinese system, where it was called LY1. Its nearest Russian counterpart is Д18 (1180).
With only 2.2 – 3.0 % copper and 0.2 – 0.5 % magnesium, 2A01 develops modest strength but stays soft enough after natural ageing to be headed and driven at any time. It is the Chinese equivalent of the American 2117 and has the same registered composition as Russian Д18, listed in GOST 4784 with the ISO designation AlCu2.5Mg.
2A01 chemical composition (GB/T 3190, wt %)
| Element | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Copper (Cu) | 2.2 | 3.0 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.20 | 0.50 |
| Manganese (Mn) | — | 0.20 |
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.50 |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.50 |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.10 |
| Titanium (Ti) | — | 0.15 |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder |
Others: each ≤ 0.05 %, total ≤ 0.10 – 0.15 % depending on edition. The certificate shows the actual melt analysis.
Shear strength and riveting performance
GB/T 3195 accepts rivet wire on two tests carried out on heat-treated samples: a shear test and an upsetting (riveting) test in which a sample of set height-to-diameter ratio is compressed into a head without cracking. Values below are the requirements commonly quoted from the standard; confirm them against the edition named on your order (the current edition is GB/T 3195-2023).
| Supply temper | Test temper | Diameter (mm) | Shear strength | Upset sample ratio | Riveting timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H14, T4 | T4 | 1.6 – 4.5 | ≥ 185 MPa | 1.5 | After 96 h natural ageing |
| H14, T4 | T4 | > 4.5 – 10.0 | ≥ 185 MPa | 1.4 | After 96 h natural ageing |
The riveting test is made on wire that has aged for 96 hours after quenching. In other words, 2A01 rivets can be driven in the fully aged condition, exactly as 2117 (AD) rivets are. No refrigeration or quench-to-drive timing is needed, which is the main reason this alloy is so widely used.
Diameter tolerances and surface quality
| Diameter (mm) | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1.6 | +0 / −0.015 | ±0.015 | ±0.015 | +0 / −0.04 |
| > 1.6 – 4.0 | +0 / −0.025 | +0.025 / −0.015 | ±0.025 | +0 / −0.05 |
| > 4.0 – 6.0 | +0 / −0.030 | ±0.025 | ±0.040 | +0 / −0.08 |
| > 6.0 – 10.0 | +0 / −0.040 | +0.050 / −0.025 | ±0.060 | +0 / −0.12 |
- No cracks, burrs, peeling, blisters, dents, pressed-in metal or non-metal, or corrosion
- Scratches and bumps only within half the minus tolerance
- Light oil residue allowed
H14 or T4: which supply temper?
T4
Solution treated and naturally aged wire, used where the rivet maker heads and drives within the alloy's working window.
O (on request)
Annealed for severe head forms; heat treated after forming.
Where 2A01 rivets are used
- Aircraft: general structural rivets in skins, stringers and frames operating below about 100 °C
- Vehicles and rail: riveted panels and frames in buses, trucks and carriages
- Machinery and enclosures: joints in sheet-metal structures
- Electronics: small rivets fixing housings and heat sinks
Where higher shear is needed, 2A10 (≥ 245 MPa) is the usual step up; it is also drivable after ageing.
What the quality certificate shows
- Product name, alloy and temper, diameter and standard number
- Batch and cast numbers for traceability
- Net weight and number of coils or packages
- Results of chemical, tensile, shear and riveting tests
- Inspection stamp and date of manufacture
Metline supplies an EN 10204 3.1 mill certificate with each lot on request, along with packing lists. Coils are wrapped against moisture and packed in wooden cases or on pallets for export.
How to order
- Alloy and supply temperFor example 2A01 in O, H13/H14 or T4, and the temper the finished rivet must reach.
- StandardASTM B316, EN 1301, GB/T 3195, AMS or your own specification, with the edition you work to.
- Diameter and toleranceNominal diameter and tolerance class, plus coil or cut-length form and coil weight.
- TestsShear strength, upsetting (heading) test, tensile, surface and dimensional checks to be shown on the certificate.
- DeliveryQuantity, packing (wrapped coils in wooden cases or on pallets), EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP terms and destination.
References and standards
- GB/T 3190 – Wrought aluminium and aluminium alloys: chemical composition
- GB/T 3195-2023 – Aluminium and aluminium alloy drawn (rolled) round wire
- GOST 4784 – Aluminium and wrought aluminium alloys. Grades
- ASTM B316/B316M – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rivet and Cold-Heading Wire and Rods
2A01 aluminium (aluminum) rivet wire: FAQ
What is the international equivalent of 2A01?
2117 in the Aluminum Association system and Д18 (1180) in the Russian system; all three share the same composition range.
Can 2A01 rivets be driven without refrigeration?
Yes. They are tested and driven after 96 hours of natural ageing, so there is no time limit after quenching.
What is the shear strength of 2A01 rivet wire?
At least 185 MPa in T4 according to the commonly quoted GB/T 3195 requirement.
What was 2A01 called before?
LY1, from the older Chinese duralumin designations.
Which tolerance class should I order?
Class C (symmetric) for general heading; class A (all-minus) when dies are set to maximum diameter.
Need 2A01 rivet wire?
Tell us the temper, diameter, tolerance class and quantity. We will reply with availability, certificates and delivery terms worldwide.
